No

No By Sharon Maria Moemise Cast in concrete, memories of when I became a woman, forced by men All I feared became a reality just as the traces of childhood ran past Shadows, whafting a stale sweat smell Grabbing at me just as I fell No one heard me shouting, screaming No! They pushed, breathing, heaving A child ran past, looking, seeing A girl frightened, stripped of her being No-one listened, five beasts saw As I crawled away, shamed, beaten raw No! A woman's cry, a girl's plea... A sigh, a moan... A spirit set free The decision to bear your shame Tainted woman, that's your name Pain, hurt and mostly the shame Knowing, not telling, accepting blame A childhood robbed, cruelly stolen A web of vengeance, hate, slowly woven.